homeability.com

Tips, Tricks & Technology for Living at Home for a Lifetime

  • Welcome
  • About
  • Contact

  • Homepage
  • Newsletter
    • Sign up for Newsletter
  • Stay Home?
    • Invest In Your Independence
    • Aging-in-Place Solutions
    • Your Own Home vs. Assisted Living Facility: Stay or Move?
    • Your Own Home vs. Assisted Living Facility: Cost Comparison
    • Assisted Living: 25 Questions to Ask Before You Move
  • Buying Guides
    • Bath Lift Guide: The Basics
    • Falls – Equipment to Help You Get Up Again
    • Accessible Bathtubs: An Amazing Diversity!
    • Slide-in Bathtubs: The Basics
    • Getting In & Out of the Bathtub: Benches, Lifts, and Transfer Chairs
  • Mobility
    • 12 Barriers to Living Independently – and 36 Ways to break them down!
    • Aging-in-Place Solutions (Overview)
    • “Clear Floor Space” Guidelines for Accessible Bathrooms
  • Bathroom
    • Bathroom Beginner’s Guide
    • “Clear Floor Space” Guidelines for Accessible Bathrooms
    • Specialized Bathtubs …
      • Overview of Accessible Bathtubs
      • Slide-in Bathtubs
      • Buying A Walk-In Bathtub – Your Biggest Mistake?
      • Walk-in Tubs: Scams & Shady Practices
      • What is a “Tub Cut”?
      • Walk-in Tubs: Hidden Costs
      • List of Walk-In Tubs Made in the USA
      • Walk-in Tubs: Our Advice to Prospective Buyers
    • Accessible Shower …
      • Handheld Showerhead Guide: The Basics
      • Curbless Showers
      • Prefab Accessible Shower
      • Curbless Shower: 8 Ways to Contain the Water Inside
      • Trench Drain for Accessible Showers: The Basics
      • Water Dam / Water Retainer for Accessible Showers: A Quick Overview
    • Toilet …
      • Accessible Toilets & Toilet Equipment: The Basics
      • Bidets: An Overview of the Basics
      • “I can’t wipe myself!”: 6 Solutions to Make Toilet Hygiene Easier
      • “I Can’t Get Up From the Toilet!” 10 Remedies
      • What’s the Best Toilet Height?
      • Best Type of Toilet for a Wheelchair User
      • Best Toilet Bowl Shape: Which is Right for You?
    • Tub Chairs, Benches, Lifts …
      • Tub Benches, Lifts, and Transfer Chairs
      • Bath Chair Lifts
      • Bathtub Bench Guide: The Basics
      • Sliding Swivel Bath Seat Guide: The Basics
      • Bath Bench for Clawfoot Tub: The Best Options
      • Bath Bench for Whirlpool & Jacuzzi Tubs: The Best Options
      • Bath Bench Leg Extensions
  • Falls
    • How to get up from the floor after a fall – MacGyver Style!
    • Afraid to Fall?
    • “I’ve Fallen!” Tips for Rescuing Yourself After a Fall
    • Fall Injury Statistics
    • Falls – Equipment to Help You Get Up Again
  • Safety
    • Home Safety Tips
    • Afraid to Fall?
    • “I’ve Fallen!” Tips for Rescuing Yourself After a Fall
  • Funding
    • The Truth About Home Modification Funding

Assisted Living: 25 Questions to Ask Before You Move

0

Share Article:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Email

dreamstime_s_23246450The cost structure, rules and guidelines vary significantly among Assisted Living Facilities so it’s important to ask lots of questions before selecting one and signing a contract. It is also important to understand that your needs will typically increase with age, so be sure to ask about additional costs for services such as bathing, dressing, medication management, incontinence care and dementia care, as well as the facility’s guidelines regarding your ability to remain there if your needs change.

Some facilities are better equipped to help you through the continuum of care as you age, however in others, if your skills decline further, you may be forced to move out and find yet another home. This means leaving behind newly made friends, researching more places again, and packing and moving all over again.

Even the facilities that are better-equipped to help with changing needs tend to have separate areas for the different levels of care, which means at the very least you will need to move between apartments within the facility as your needs change. Packing and moving many times over the upcoming years is surely not what you have in mind as your setting off to pick a new home– so be very careful and pick wisely.

Here are a few fundamental questions to ask an Assisted Living Facility:

  1. What is the base monthly cost?
  2. What services are included in the base monthly cost? (Cleaning, Meals, Bathing, Dressing, Medication Management, laundry, transportation)
  3. What are the costs for services that are not provided in the monthly base cost?
  4. Are transportation services provided? Do these services accommodate all mobility levels (E.g. ambulatory and wheelchair users)? Cost of services?
  5. Are there any additional sign-up fees?
  6. How often will rates increase and is there a limit on the amount they can increase over a set time period?
  7. If you need to go to the hospital temporarily, will some fees (or all) continue to apply when you are not present in the facility?
  8. What are their policies regarding incontinence care, memory impairment, and level of mobility skills required to remain a resident? Ask for a copy of their policies.
  9. How do they determine if your skills no longer meet the facilities requirements? Is this a subjective determination by their staff alone? What is the appeal policy?
  10. Can you set your own time schedule for your daily routine or is this fixed by the facility?
  11. Do you have to eat in a public dining room or do you also have the option to have meals delivered to your room?
  12. What is the staff to resident ratio and how are staff members selected? Do they require background checks for employees? What type of training do they receive?
  13. How often does staff check on residents?
  14. What is the staff turnover rate?
  15. Is there a nurse on staff? Physical therapist? Podiatrist? Hospice Care?
  16. Do they regularly monitor your health, weight and vital signs?
  17. How accessible are the bathrooms? Do they have accessible height toilets (17” or higher)? Do they have curb-less showers? (Curb-less showers are easiest to get in/out of if using a walker or wheelchair.)
  18. Are there call bells present in the bedroom and in the bathroom that you can use to alert people you need help if you have an emergency?
  19. Do they use any fall detection or wander alert technology?
  20. What type of activities do they offer? Do they have community outings? If so, how often?
  21. Are there accessible gardens and grounds?
  22. What if you have a noisy or disruptive neighbor that plays their TV loud, snores or yells? How are these situations handled?
  23. What is the policy if a facility fire or a staff member damages your property?
  24. What happens if you do something that results in property damage to the facility? Are you responsible to cover the costs?
  25. Have any complaints been filed against the facility?

You can tell a lot about a facility by talking to the residents and staff, so try talking to as many residents and staff members as possible. Check online for reviews, as well as the word “complaints” in connection with the facility’s name. The Better Business Bureau and Yelp are two good places to start.

Review all contracts thoroughly and consider consulting with an Elder Law Attorney before you sign any documents. Your care and your well-being will be in the hands of the facility – so it is important to do everything possible to be certain that you are in good hands!

Safety Enhancing Products on Amazon.com

Bath chair lift, lowers bather to bottom of the tub
Recliner lift chair, makes it easier to stand up
Safety handle for chair, duals as tray table
Bed &chair alarm to alert caregivers


More articles are steadily being added to homeability.com on the latest tips, tricks and technology for making daily life easier at home. Check back often or sign up for the Newsletter to be kept up to date when new posts are added.

More Topics You May Be Interested In:

  1. Beginner’s Guide to Accessible Bathrooms
  2. Aging in Place Solutions
  3. Your Own Home vs. Assisted Living Facility: Cost Comparison
  4. Buying a Walk-in Tub – Your Biggest Mistake?
  5. Getting In & Out of the Bathtub: Benches, Lifts, and Transfer Chairs
Share Article:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Rhonda Bonecutter

— Rhonda Bonecutter

Founder of homeability.com

    Related Posts

  • accessible-bathroom-3D Beginner’s Guide to Accessible Bathrooms
  • homeability_dreamstime_26 Aging in Place: How do I find a Contractor?
  • dreamstime_s_12407179 copy Invest In Your Independence
  • Should I Stay or Go Two Way Road Signs Make Decision Your Own Home vs. Assisted Living Facility: Stay or Move?
  • Search Site

  • Advertisement

  • Highlights

    • Popular
    • Recent
    • Comments
    • Tags
    • walk-in bathtub homeability Buying A Walk-In Bathtub – Your Biggest Mistake? January 2014
    • Sliding bathtub transfer bench Getting In & Out of the Bathtub: Benches, Lifts, and Transfer Chairs December 2013
    • dreamstime_s_12566818 Falls – Equipment to Help You Get Up Again December 2013
    • Kohler Elevance (1) Accessible Bathtubs: An Amazing Diversity! November 2013
    • cover_fall_500x500 How to get up from the floor after a fall – MacGyver Style! February 2014
    • homeability_dreamstime_26 Aging in Place: How do I find a Contractor?
    • Bed_ Rails_Homeaiblity.com Bed Rails: Which Type is Best?
    • homeability_dreamstime Ramps: What to Consider When Selecting a Ramp for Your Home
    • sliding-swivel-bath-bench-homeability Sliding Swivel Bath Seats: Which Type is Right for You?
    • toilet-seat-homeability Toilet Seats: Best Options for Disabled Persons
    • Sheila says: We purchased a walk in tub in 2018. It cost us...
    • Dr HOWARD J KIRSCHNER says: I AM A 84 YEAR OLD PRACTICING DENTIST AND I HAVE...
    • Dorothy Lamb says: I live ina Mobile Home Park for Seniors.. I have neighbors...
    • Bill Alvarado says: I am 73 and i live alone in San Francisco in...
    • Sondra Maze Ladd says: Thank you so much for sharing this information! We have been...
    age-friendly home age at home aging-in-place barrier-free shower bath chair for disabled bath lift bathroom bath seat bath seat for disabled bath seat for elderly bath seat for handicap bath seat rotates bath seat slides bathtub bathtub chair bathtub for seniors bathtub lift curbless shower disabled elevated toilet seat fall injury fall prevention fall prevention tips fall recovery falls handicap handicap bathroom remodel handicap bathtub handicap shower homeability home ability lifts lighting live at home live at home forever make home safer for seniors Safety senior citizens seniors toilet pedestal toilet riser tub tub seat walk-in bathtub walk in tub
  • Getting up after a Fall!

  • Search Site

  • Home
  • Newsletter
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • About

© 2013-2016 homeability.com